Propane Purification via Adsorption and Partial Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing propane production methods via hydrogenation reactions struggle to achieve high purity propane due to excessive heat generation, which leads to the formation of impurities like methane and ethane, requiring complex temperature control and reducing yield.
Innovation Solution
A propane production method involving a hydrogenation reaction step followed by an impurity removal step using molecular sieve zeolite and activated carbon adsorbents to adsorb and separate impurities such as water, ethane, and propylene, and subsequent partial condensation or distillation to remove hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrogenation reaction is performed at high temperature to efficiently generate propane from propylene, then productivity is improved, but impurities such as methane and ethane are generated reducing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the propane production process into two distinct stages: (1) hydrogenation reaction stage where propylene is converted to crude propane at controlled temperatures, and (2) purification stage where impurities are removed through adsorption and separation processes. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently - high efficiency in production and high precision in purification - thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes impurities (methane, ethane, and other contaminants) generated during the hydrogenation reaction through a dedicated purification process using adsorbents and separation techniques. By taking out the harmful impurities from the crude propane product, the manufacturing precision is improved while maintaining the productivity benefits of the hydrogenation reaction.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise temperature control is implemented during hydrogenation reaction to prevent impurity formation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces adsorbents (such as molecular sieves, activated carbon, or zeolites) as intermediary substances that selectively adsorb impurities from the crude propane stream. These adsorbents act as mediators between the hydrogenation reaction and the final pure propane product, enabling impurity removal without requiring complex temperature control systems during the reaction phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the need for complex mechanical temperature control systems with a chemical adsorption-based purification system. Instead of relying on precise mechanical control of reaction conditions to prevent impurity formation, the system uses chemical adsorbents to remove impurities after formation, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity and operational requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If activated carbon is used to adsorb and separate isobutane, normal butane, and propane, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of substance increases due to large amount of propane adsorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the principle of local quality by selecting adsorbents with specific pore sizes and chemical properties that are tailored to adsorb only the desired impurities (isobutane, normal butane) while having minimal affinity for propane. This localized selectivity in adsorption properties ensures that separation effectiveness is improved without significant loss of the valuable propane product.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs porous materials such as molecular sieves, activated carbon with controlled pore structures, or zeolites that have pore sizes specifically designed to allow selective adsorption. These porous materials provide high surface area for adsorption while maintaining size-selective properties that prevent excessive adsorption of propane, thereby improving separation effectiveness while minimizing substance loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method efficiently produces high-purity propane with high yield by accurately removing impurities without the need for precise temperature control during the hydrogenation reaction, utilizing adsorption and separation processes to achieve purity levels of 99.999 vol. % or more.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorptive removal step of adsorbing and removing water, ethane and propylene contained as impurities in the gaseous crude propane by adsorption treatment in which the gaseous crude propane is brought into contact with an adsorbent
Implementation Method 2
a separation removal step of separating and removing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and methane contained as impurities in crude propane after the adsorption treatment by partial condensation or distillation of the crude propane after the adsorption treatment in the adsorptive removal step
Implementation Method 3
a hydrogenation reaction step of performing a hydrogenation reaction of crude propylene and hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst to obtain gaseous crude propane containing impurities
Implementation Method 4
in the hydrogenation reaction accompanied by heat generation to generate propane from propylene, when the reaction temperature is excessively high, the impurities such as methane and ethane are generated
Data Source
AI summary
A propane production method includes a hydrogenation reaction step of hydrogenation-reacting crude propylene and hydrogen in a presence of a catalyst to obtain gaseous crude propane containing impurities; and an impurity removal step of removing the impurities contained in the gaseous crude propane obtained in the hydrogenation reaction step to obtain purified propane. The impurity removal step includes an adsorptive removal stage of adsorbing and removing water, ethane and propylene contained as impurities in the gaseous crude propane by adsorption treatment in which the gaseous crude propane is brought into contact with an adsorbent, and a separation removal stage of separating and removing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and methane contained as impurities in the crude propane after the adsorption treatment by partial condensation or distillation of crude propane after the adsorption treatment in the adsorptive removal stage.